Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, right, is greeted by his Thai counterpart Yingluck
Shinawatra during a meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand,
Friday, March 23. (AP Photo/Rungroj Yongrit, Pool)
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday,
March 23 welcomed her Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, who was here
on a three-day official visit to strengthen bilateral relations between
the two countries.
After an official welcoming ceremony at Government House,
Ms Yingluck and Mr Harper held talks and hailed the strong bilateral
relations between the two countries which this year marked their 50th
anniversary.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues
including the prospect of expanded bilateral cooperation in various fields
such as trade and investment promotion.
Yingluck said Thailand wants to increase its export value
to Canada, particularly in regard to frozen seafood, rice, fruits and beans,
rubber and rubber products, electronics parts and gems.
Thailand and Canada expect to begin negotiating a free
trade agreement (FTA), which could be a major mechanism to expand trade
between the two countries.
The kingdom also wants to invite Canadian business
investment in Thailand in electronics, machinery, automobile production, and
information technology as well as clean technology, environmental protection
and biotechnology, she said.
PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has invested in a
Canadian oil sands project. Yingluck asked the Canadian government to
support the operations of Thai firms in Canada.
Thailand and Canada also agreed to boost cooperation in
terms of technology, science and innovation to raise competitiveness in
areas such as food science technology development; to utilize space and
satellite technology to help monitor and issue warnings in case of natural
disasters; and to help the tourism industry by facilitating visa application
procedures.
“Harper’s official visit not only commemorates the 50th
anniversary of Thai-Canadian diplomatic relations, but reaffirms the
long-lasting and cordial relations between the two countries,” Yingluck
said.
Thailand, as the country coordinator of ASEAN-Canada
relations during 2009-2012, will also take this opportunity to highlight the
auspicious occasion of the 35th Anniversary of ASEAN-Canada dialogue
relations this year.
The Thailand visit is part of Harper’s Asian tour that
took him to Japan March 25-26 and to the South Korean capital March 26-27
where he participated in the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. (MCOT)
